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| UEFA reduce Drogba and Bosingwa UCL bans |
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UEFA have reduced Didier Drogba's Champions League ban from four matches to three after his foul-mouthed rant at the referee after Chelsea's semi-final elimination against Barcelona in May.
UEFA's appeals body lowered the ban after the Chelsea striker pleaded his case in person alongside teammate Jose Bosingwa at a closed-doors hearing. A suspended ban for another two games is still in place.
Bosingwa's suspension was reduced from three matches to two, for the defender's offensive comments about Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the match.
A statement on UEFA's official website read: ''Under the UEFA Appeals Body's verdicts, Drogba will be suspended for five UEFA club competition matches - the last two of which will be deferred for a probationary period of three years - and has been fined 15,000. Bosingwa will be suspended for three UEFA club competition matches, the last of which is deferred for a probationary period of three years, and fined 10,000.
Drogba and Bosingwa faced charges of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments.
Drogba launched a foul-mouthed rant at Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the final whistle of Chelsea's second-leg against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on May 6.
The Blues conceded a last-gasp equaliser to draw the game 1-1 and go out on away goals and there were angry scenes afterwards with Chelsea furious at having four penalty claims turned down.
Drogba, who had been substituted in the second half, appeared from the tunnel to confront the referee. Bosingwa later described Ovrebo as a ''thief'' in an interview on Portuguese television; although both players apologised for their behaviour.
The UEFA statement added: ''The 100,000 fine imposed against Chelsea by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body remains confirmed (as the club withdrew their appeal), for the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters at the match against Barcelona.''
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